Van disappears, then is found in flames

BY ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com

May 06, 2009 06:35 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Figure this one out.

Someone ran off with a cleaning company's van shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday as crews worked to clean the Bayview Inn Bar & Grill on U.S. 31 in Acme Township. A short time later, deputies found the heavy-duty van engulfed in flames down a rugged two-track road near Scenic Hills Drive.

"It's pretty nasty back in there," Grand Traverse Sheriff's Capt. Tom Emerson said. "The sergeant said he could hardly get back in there with his four-wheel drive vehicle."

Workers from Traverse City-based Steam-Pro hadn't been at the Bayview long when the van vanished from the parking lot. The keys were in the vehicle while they cleaned inside, Emerson said.

Not long after police received a call from the cleaning crew about the stolen van, they received another about a vehicle horn blaring from the woods. Deputies found the cleaning van on fire. It appeared to be stuck, and the suspect or suspects may have caused the fire by trying to get it out, investigators believe.

"We're not treating this as an arson," Emerson said. "It's not uncommon if you get a vehicle stuck and keep accelerating for it to catch on fire."

No one was around, but deputies found a cigarette pack, cleaning company tags and several other items a good distance from the van, Emerson said.

"We're trying to follow up on some evidence we have out there right now," he said.

The van, now a charred hulk, was taken to Ward Eaton Towing's lot in Garfield Township and was expected to be examined for further evidence.

Investigators haven't identified a motive for the theft. Steam-Pro management did not return calls for comment.

Emerson said it's not uncommon for vehicles to be stolen and set on fire or otherwise damaged.

"We solve a fair amount of them one way or another," Emerson said, often by tips from the public.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at 995-5152 or Silent Observer at 947-TIPS.

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